Aib--vent heans for vaults



Feb. 3, 1931.

J. P. WILLIAMS i 1,791.05!)

Am VENT MEANS Fon vAULTs Filed may 25, 192e s Smets-sheet 1 l f l r. @C L ,z D SLC Q f. l-$5 ,f Q@ lq n@ "'J Y s i 3% a l. E T1- @an AIR VENT MEANS FOR VAULTS Filed May 25,-1928 s sheetssneet 2 'ii/mimlmmn J.A P. WILLIAMS' 1,791,051)

Fb.. 3, i931. J. P. WILLIAMS AFR VENT MEANS `FORV VAULTS Filed May 25. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 Y 'l fg.

" oNi'rrD S'TATES PATE NLTGFFICE Jojiiii P. WILLIAMS. FMALVERNENEW YORK,Y Ass'IGNoR A'ioiiuriinxl Etno-freie coMiANY, OFVNEW YORK, N. Y., A ooRioiiA'rioNrorf DELAWARE AIR-verr MEANS ronvAULrs Appucetin mea Mey 25, 19221;'l ser'ii im. 280,527. f

This invention relates to airaven-twmeans for.. vaults and comprises a dev-ice which is mounted in a vault Wall `and eXtendstherej through and is ladapted to-beoperated trom the inside of the vault -tolprovide adirect opening to the exterior of the" vault. The purpose of suoli air-vent devices is 'to enable anyone locked a vau-ltfeither under burglariousattec'lr or accidentally to. conveniently open up the air passage Aa'iorded by the device and thus secure desired-ventilation Within theV4 vault and lcommu'nication through theV Wall thereof. lThe air passage thus afforded Will enable the supplyof air from the outside' 'in i sufcient degree to preservet-he life ofv anyone imprisoned in the vault-during any period of time until released. Y

It will be understood that vbank'vaults,`as usually constructed, are :iretight at the inL "i terior, and have time-'lock closure doors, and

v that therefore to preserve life within-the' vault under closed conditions itis' necessary to provide emergency means'for communication with the outside air. ,l Y y o lt is 'the vobject of n'iy'pres'ent invention to provide an improved` device :of the character above indicated Whicliivill aord a 'ventjarea of a size conveniently. and effectively adapted `for the insertion of an intake-tube- -from the@ inside 'of `the vault and through thev vent means to the 4outside of the vaultvvhenthe vent Vis opened up, said tube beingr connectedv with Ventilating fan meansinside-t'he vault whereby fresh Vair W'illbei dra'iwny into the vault and the Vfoul air will be expelled 'therefrom through the excess area of the lvent space which is not-occupied loy the intake tube.l A further object of my present invention is' v to provide simple andimproved meansivhereby the turning or disarrangement of the-clef.

sure lufr of the vent means'fo-r its removal bymanipuletion fromfthe-outsideofthevault' will be entirely precluded,y -thep'lug member being-locked against release by vtuijnable op!y eration and having itself nothreadedconnection Withfthe body casing of thefv'ent'means which it closes, and being removable only by l an `inward v-pull upon apilot Wheel which 'turns `freely upon the .plugand isf-in :locked` connection With the body casing-and lthuskit'-V selflforins locking means forthe plug. jMy

improvements are further-designed topr'o-V vide afdevice `of thischaracter :which will possess advantages in 'point-of .simplieity,

convenience, economy in construction, securty. @@SQQ Opelfaten, ei'ectiveness, and Vgen;A

eral efiiciency.

. ltfwill be understoodthat improved air.A y. vent means are adapted for effectiveeiiiploy'.-lA

ment Vthrough the. vWalls ofk types of VIVvault c'oiistujction-7 `or lar-gejsafes, ors'torage 'rooms o rother compartments, under.-conditions in which anv'air-vent would be required tothe interior inthe eventuality of anyone being' imprisoned therein. f

In the drawings-- l Y Figureyl is fa'longitu(ii-nal sectional view inyimpijoved air-ventV means. Y l v l Fig. iis 'a'corresponding vieivnt the, eXtei'ior surface of the vau-ltvvall. A

; Figrnl .is a detail "cross-seetion-on the'jlinei Fig 8 is a detailcross-section onthe line 8 8, Fig. a

Fig.-9fis a detail cross-section on lthe line 9-9g'Flg. 2. I

' VFig. 7. i-sradeltaill cross-section onthejline `Fig. 10 is afseotional view correspondingto Fig. 2, with theclosure pluggremoved and showing thefintake tube accommodated in theloody'casing.A v

v-fGori-esponding parts in all the igures are l y denotedby the sainereerencej characters. Y Referring to the drawings, -18 .designates theouter .casing or sleeve which constitutes the main ltubular body ofthe device and-eX- tends longitudinally through the vault Wall,

this casing'being preferably .-formed ofy yaV Steel tubing. f The Y. exteriorv 'surface vof this' Cal i iai' body casing is preferably cylindrical and uniform throughout its length, and its interior bore is also of uniform diameter through its I length except at the front and rear ends, the

front end of vthe bore (which is at the outerface of the vault wall) being tapered in re` duced diameter, as at 19, .towards theend, to preclude any removal of the closure plug for-l wardly towards the outer side of the vault wall. The interior diameter of thebore ofthe casing is of suflicientarea V(in practice, 'usually approximately 3) to not-only affordan` ample vair opening for the reception of an intake tube but also toVproviderf'additional space beyond the intake tube for the exhaust of the lfoul air. Atits inner or rear end, which is at the interior face of the vault wall, thebore of the casing is preferably enlarged, as at 20, forming a stop shoulder, as at 21,

beyond which the walls of Vthe enlarged por-V ticn'of the borel arethreaded, as at 22, foren-' gagement with a threaded portion of" the jecting anchoring pins, 25, at suitable inter-- vals, extending laterally into Athe grout mass and thus precludingany longitudinal or turning movement of the' casing from its securely set position, s

2 6 designates the closure plug for the body casing, which normally extends longitudinally within the bore of tlie'casing andcomprises a head, 2 7, at its outer orfront end, which head fits snugly within and 'circumferentially conforms to the bore' of the casing and has a tapered' end portion, as at 28, snugly fitting lthe corresponding tapered portion 19of the bore. Said head is carried by a longitudinal body rod, 30, extending to` wards the rearor innerend of the casing and beyond the same at the interior surface of the wall of the vault. The body rod of the closure plug is preferably of less diameter than the diameter of the head 27,' whereby material reduction in the weight ,ofthe plug is effected and the manipulation'thereof for insertion within or removal fromthe body casing 18 is conveniently facilitated.

The pilot wheel, 31, forgoverning the lock-V ing of the closure plug in its normal position and the releasing and withdrawal thereof,

loiiiprises a body, 32, adapted for convenient turning manipulation by the hands ofthe operator, and carrying a hub, 33, the inner end portion of wliichis 'anially'recessech as at 311,150 form a cylindrical bore receiving the corresponding cylindrical inner end, 35, of

and for the purthe Vbody rod 30 of the closure plug member 26, the mountin being'sucli that the pilot member turns reely thereon without any Vturning operation of the closure plug mem ber. This mounting is preferably effected by a slip joint connection between -the operating pilot wheel member and the end of the rod 30, the latter having a cylindrical circumferential groove, 3,.receiving the ends of oppositely-located pins orstuds, as at 3'7-37', projecting from the hub 33 inwardly into thevbore space thereof, the pilot wheel member thus having a revoluble but locked connection with the closure plug member and carrying the latter in its insertion into or removalfrom the Vbody casing 18. The closure plug member and the operating pilot wheel member thus constitute a connected entity.

The preferred construction. for providing.

the projecting pins or studs 37 is as herein shown, in` which the pins are threaded from the outside through the wall of the liub33, andthe pins are locked in setrposition by means of set screws, as at` 38, `positioned in the wall of the hub vS'and having a flanged head, 39, accommodated in a surface recess in thehub and overlying thev outer end portion of the threaded pins or studs 37. Y

The inner endportion of the hub 40, and of a diameter corresponding to the inner or rear end 20 of the bore of the body casing 18, the circumference ofsaid endportion 40 being threaded, as at 41, to engage the internal threads 22 of the bore. Thus, when the pilot wheel is vscrewed home (by turning to the right), with the closure plug member 26 carried thereby andlinserted in the bore of thebody casing 18, the tapered head 28 of the -plug is seated tightly within and' against the tapered front or outer end portion of the bore in a iit which is bothliquid and airtight, and the vent isthus securely closed hythe plug in such manner that the latter cannot be withdrawn towards yand from the 'outer faceV o'fthevault wall nor forced inwardly, its position being securely locked bythe pilot of the pilotwheel is preferably disc shaped, as'at .7

loo

wheel. Inzscrewing home the pilot wheel, its y threaded engagement withan entrance into the'bore of the body casing, with relation to relative adjustable conditions, is permitted by the enlarged inner end portion 2O of the bore withinther limit ,of the stop shoulder 21 of the latter. Toreleasethe closure plug and open up the vent, it is only necessary to turn c the pilotwheel reversely (tothe left) to release itsthreaded connection with theV body casing, in rwhich operation the-closure plug itself,whichliafs noithreaded connection with thebo're of the casing, will not turnbutthe pilot wheel will freely turn on the plug, when `the pilot wheel and the 'plug can be drawn' asv I an entityinto thefinterior of the vault and thev closure' plugthus removed from the body casing toropen up theentire interior area of the latter, the conditions being` such thativthe plug is tlius removable only from the inside of the vault.

In a preferred construction, the entire in-V terior area of the bore of the body casing is tion 2T of the plug, and the 'closed inner oi rear end of said tubing being secured to the rod or stem 30 by set screws, as' at 45,- engaging Vlateral stud plates, 46, upon the rod or stem 30. Thus, the closure plug member has 'substantially adiam'e'ter oorrespondingfin longitudinal extent to the diameterof thel bore of the body casing and the entire interior area of the-bore is normally substantially closed, said tubing forming a skeleton body surrounding the reduced longitudinal rod or stem 30 of the plug and bringing the external diameter of the inner portion of the latter substantiallyV uniform with the en# larged outer or `head portion thereof.

I also preferably employ, in connection withv the improved vent means',- a heat resisting cap,4:7, which is'mountedatthe outer face of the vault Wall, coincidentWith the vent opening and closure plug, said cap piece being of full `ireproof quality V(for instance,v

asbestos) to protect the outer'end of the vent means from the .action of llame or heat. Said cap comprises a face plate or disc', 48," which seats against the usual plaster surface, i9, of the vault Wall, and carriesY an inWardlypro-l jecting bodyportion accommodated in a ,re-i,

cess in said plaster surface,isaid vcap havingy a spring-clasp connect-ion, 50, with a groove, 51, in a stud on the outer end of the closure plug, whereby when the latter is Witlidrayvn inwardly from the vent the protective cap will fall to the floor and leave the end of the vent clear. Y v

.A special feature of my present invention and improvements is that the yturning of the pilot wheel will not turn the closure 'plug in its normal position Within-the'bore of the casing, but the turning of the Wheel merely plies the necessary pressure upon theplugto seat it in locked position or to release it-to permit it to be drawn from the vent bythe pilot Wheel. Thus the plug is held securely' in' position by means-of pressure eXertediby the pilot Wheel and not by the usual conditions in which the closure plug itself has a threaded connection by Whicli'itis screvved into the body easing, and consequently/z any possibility of unscrevving the plug fromtli'e'l outside of the vault is entirely eliminated, as even if the plug is turned Within the body casing this action carin-ii` release the; threaded' conneotionof the pilot vvheel with the casing and will therefor-"e not turnv the pilot'tflieelnor affect the pressure it exerts to liold the plug in its', iight connection ai the einer end .Y

of the-firent` In other words, the piltwheel turns freely' upon the fixed plug which it carries? andeertsconstant pressure vvheri` the plug isin normal position, and this' pressure' cannot be released'by any taining of the plug' i 1 itself.

My improved ventas herein ,described isf especially adapted forceiective usage and op-y eration in? connection vvitlV an auxiliary Yfan Ventilating means, vvl-'iieh latter can comprise an electric fan mechanism,- liown at 52',

and liavinga tubing, 53,76f suitable `length and preieiiiiiyfliibi, which beiiiseaed tiiroughthe opened ventirad which in opera- Y tion 'will draw fresh air through saidL intake tube vfrom theoutside of the vault arid create an exhaust'ivher'eby the foul air vifllbe al' loived to escape through the vt foirii'ithe inside of the vault The structure of the proved vent means is especially adapted to this purpose, the body casing 18 having a free and substantially uniformv karea throughout the length of its bore-and beingalso structurally adapted to an enlarged diameter of its bore which vvill permit the rapid and convenient insertionk ofthe fan intake tube plug is thro'ughfthe bore, when 'the' closure removed, with the end of the tube projecting Y Y beyond the vault Wall at the outer' or front end, and thus aording in the relative construction, in which the intaketub'e is of ma-l teriaiiy lesserY diameter than the diameter of the bore ofthe body casing, an ample space Within'tlie bore .throughwhich the 'foul air from inside the vault Will'exhaust While the fresh air is being drawn in by the intake tube. It Will be further noted that the substantially uniform continuous construction of the bore of the Abody casing, as afforded by my present invention and improvements, oii'ers no conditions of resistance tothe 'free slidiable insertionof the fanintake tube. through the vent opening y, Y

I do not herein claim the fan attachment in its rel-,ation to theimproved vent means as herein set forth, the same'forming the subject-matter' of a separate application for patent, kentitled Airventfans forvvaults, Ser. No. 280,528`,f1ed May 25, 1928.

. -The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. y The improved air-vent device is at all times normally retained in closed position by engage'- ment of the controlling pilot Wheel with the body casing. Underemergency conditions,

the only action necessary Within the vault to aiiord instant opening of the air ventfor ef# fective ventilation or communication' with the exterion'is merely the turning of the pilot iro wheel ,torelease its engagement with 'the body casing, whereupon the pilot wheel 'and the closure plug which it carries can be drawn inwardly within the vault to draw the closure plug entirely from the body casing and thus leave the bore of the latter entirely open and outwardly through the excess space inthe bore of the body casing which is aorded by the greater diameter of saidV boreA and the lesser diameter ofthe intake tube.l The improved device thus adordsa very simple and effective means which can be conveniently and instantly operated in a simple movement without excessive manual requirements, and an effective vent means which is proof against attack from the exterior of the vault.

I do not desire-to be understood as limiting myself to the detail-construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope .of my invention Vand improvements.V l therefore reserve -the right to ill such variations and modifications as prop-V erly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, l claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

l. An air-vent means of the class described,-

coi'nprising a tubularbody casing adapted to be secured in a wall and extend therethrough,

said casing having a continuous longitudinal bore of substantially uniform diameter and unobstructed throughout its main length and having an outwardly tapered reduced-diameter at its outer end, a plug kforming a closure' for said tube and'having a`v correspondingly tapered outer end, said plug having a slidable mounting within said bore and being free from engaged connection with the wall thereof, a pilot-wheel member turnably mounted upon the rear or inner end of said plug, meansl securing the turnable connection of the pilot wheel and plug against longitudinal movenient, said means consisting of a circumferential groove at the end of the plue'and pins or studs entering laterally from tie hub or" the pilot wheel into said groove, whereby the pilot wheel and plug constitute an entity the parts of which arein connection but relatively turnable, and a hub portionV carried by the pilot wheel and projectively entering the inner or rear end of said bore of the body cas-.-

ing and having aj threaded engagement with the interior wall thereof.

2. An air-vent means of the class described,

vreduced front end of said bore and a rod or stem extending longitudinally and rearwardly from said head, aV tubular casing surrounding said plug stem to compensate for the differing diameter of the plug head and'stem and to aord a substantially uniform closure ofthebore of the body casing at the stem portion of the plug beyond its head, and means engaging theinner or rear end of said stem. for securing said plug to its front seat, said means being'` held vagainst movement longitudinally of said stem. Y

3. An air-vent means ofthe class described, comprising a tubular body casing adapted tobe secured in a wall and extend therethrough, said casing having a continuous longitudinal bore substantially unobing a reduced vdiameter at its outer end, a plug forming a closure for saiditube and having a slidable mounting within said bore and being free from engaged connection with the wall thereof, said plug having at its outer or front end a head corresponding to and adapted to seat against the reduced front end of. said bore and a rod or stem extending longitudinally and rearwardly from said head, a.

tubular casingv surrounding said plug stem to compensate for the diliering diameter of the plug head and stem and to afford a substantially uniform closure of the bore of the body casing at the stem portion of the plug beyond its head, controlling means turnably mounted upon the inner or rear end of said stem and'engaging with the body casing to secure said plug to its front seat, and means securing the connection of the plug and turnable controllingVy meansVL against independent longitudinal movement of the plug. Y

4. In air-vent means of the class described comprising a tubular body casing adapted to be secured in a wall and extend therethrough and aplug forming a closure for said tube and removable therefrom towards the inner side of the wall, a heat-resisting cap adapted to seatagainst the outer face ofthe wall and having a clasp connection with the outer end of said closure plug, whereby upon withdrawal of the plug the clasp connection will be rpleased nand the cap drop from engagemen i struced throughout its main length and hav- 5. In air-Vent means of the class described comprising a tubular body casing adapted to be secured in a wall and extend therethrough and a plug. forming a closure for said tu e and removable therefrom towards the inner side of the wall, means located in said tube for preventing forward movement of the plug within said bore, Va heat resisting cap adapted to seat against the outer face of the wall, and havinga clasp connection with the outer end of said closure plug, whereby upon withdrawal of the plug the clasp connection v will be released andthe cap drop from en- A gagement.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specifications.

JOHN rywniLIAMs.' 

